Land, Court, and Probate records contain key information that can connect generations, confirm family groups, provide vital data, and build the stories of your ancestors. This online seminar demonstrates how to get the most out of these important resources. This three-session seminar focuses on New England resources from the 17th century to present day, but many of the strategies and methods discussed can be applied to other regions of the country. 

Financial records can help fill in the timeline of your ancestor’s movements and explain motivations behind migrations. Deeds, pension, town, probate, tax, and employment records may exist when vital records do not. This class will demonstrate why financial records should be your go-to for tracing ancestors on the move, discuss what information is included in each, and where to find them. 

Throughout its history, the United States has offered several land incentives to encourage settlement and migration westward. In this class, we will first discuss federal bounty land warrants for military service between 1775 and 1855 and then delve more deeply into homesteading records including land entry case files, patents, and tract books.  

The US Federal Census is often the go-to resource for family historians researching ancestors from the 19th and 20th centuries. To get the most out of this resource, it’s important to understand the record’s context, specific search tips, and shortcomings. Join us for an overview of the Federal Census and gain valuable search techniques for using this important resource.

In the 19th century, hundreds of towns and counties across the United States published biographical histories—or “mug books.” These can be valuable resources for family historians—providing a great deal of genealogical data and images—however, because the sketches are unsourced and arguably biased, the information should always be taken with a grain of salt. Join us to learn how to identify, access, evaluate, and use mug books responsibly.

When most family historians think about the census, we think of the population schedule—the enumeration of individuals living within a household. But there is so much more to the Federal Census that many researchers overlook! We will discuss how mortality, agriculture, manufacturing, business, and other social statistics schedules can be used in your genealogical research. We’ll review what data was collected for what years, how to access these non-population schedules, and how to leverage this information in your own family history.

Finding information about your New York ancestors can be tricky. That challenge is in part due to the fact that statewide registration of vital records did not start until 1880. There are, however, bright spots in New York research, such as the state census. In this webinar we will discuss how the State and Federal Censuses (1850-1880) can help you fill in the gaps in your New York ancestry.

For anyone with 17th-century New England colonists in their family tree, the Great Migration study project is a go-to resource. Created and researched by Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, the series provides authoritative genealogical and biographical sketches for more than 20,000 individuals who immigrated to New England between 1620 and 1635, and detailed references for many more who immigrated between 1635 to 1640. Many of these sketches are available as searchable databases on AmericanAncestors.org. Join us to learn more about these important resources and how best to search the databases.

There are at least 44 million descendants of enslaved individuals alive today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts. The 10 Million Names Project, recently launched by American Ancestors and its partners, aims to connect the family stories of these descendants to the 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to emancipation and to restore their names to history. Join us as we share the scope of this project, the objectives, and our methodology.

This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors – New England Historic Genealogical Society (American Ancestors) - who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more. Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locations from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, AncesTrees-our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogic goals.